| Location of your aquarium | | | | It is also not recommended to use feeder fishes |
| So, you bought your very first fish tank. And you | | | | for this task, as they often carry diseases. |
| probably already decided where to place it. But | | | | Prawn method is easy, throw them in and wait. |
| keep in mind that a fish tank filled with water is | | | | But be prepared for the smell. |
| much heavier than it seems. So please, place it on | | | | Commercial products are not the most reliable. |
| something strong and stable. | | | | Most of us would wonder how much shelf life do |
| It is also advisable to keep your fish tank away | | | | these products have. After all, we are talking |
| from direct, or even indirect, sunlight. Long hours | | | | about live organisms here. But there are indeed |
| of sunlight will induce algae, something you do not | | | | cases where hobbyists introduce fishes without |
| want if you wish to keep your aquarium beautiful. | | | | cycling, relying on commercial products to do its |
| Any gravel? | | | | work. It all boils down to how much risk you are |
| Skip this part if you plan to have a simple | | | | willing to take. Personally, I have a bottle of |
| bare-bottom fish tank. Personally, I feel that | | | | Nutrafin Cycle, which I bought when I upgraded |
| gravels make an aquarium looks so much nicer. | | | | my filter. |
| Having gravels also helps hide your fishes' wastes. | | | | The wait |
| Before you start pouring your gravels into your | | | | So you've introduced ammonia, turned on your |
| fish tank, stop! Take a pail, pour your gravels into | | | | filter, and is waiting for your fish tank to cycle. I |
| it instead. Start washing them over and over until | | | | would recommend at least three days of cycling |
| the water is decently clear. This is important, as | | | | before introducing your fishes. Longer, if the |
| you don't want your fishes to be swimming in | | | | fishes you plan to keep are sensitive. Or if you |
| chocolate milk. | | | | have not decided on what fishes to keep, now is |
| Preparing your water | | | | a good time to research on that. |
| Water is the single most important element of an | | | | Find on how big will the fishes grow up to. Most |
| aquarium. It is important to prepare your water | | | | fishes are so tiny when young, but can grow up |
| before adding any fishes, as most tap water | | | | to huge sizes. This is important, as having no |
| contains chemicals like chlorine and chloramine, | | | | space to swim will stunt their growth, their colors |
| which are harmful to fishes. So be sure to get a | | | | will not show, and they get sick easier. So get |
| bottle of water conditioner from your favourite | | | | suitable fishes, unless you have plans to upgrade |
| pet shop that neutralizes both chlorine and | | | | to a larger fish tank. |
| chloramine. | | | | Find out if the fishes are to be kept in brackish |
| If you have gravels, be very gentle when pouring | | | | water or fresh water. Do not mix the two types |
| water into your tank, so as not to stir up the | | | | of fishes. Find out also their aggressiveness, |
| gravels. A useful tip is to pour your water onto a | | | | feeding habits, behaviors, and anything else you |
| floating plate or saucer, so as to divert the force | | | | need to know to keep your fishes healthy and |
| of the falling water. Fill water to your preferred | | | | happy. |
| height, and add measured amount of your | | | | Acclimatizing your new fishes |
| anti-chlorine-and-chloramine water conditioner. | | | | Finally, it's time for you to go out and buy your |
| Setting up your filter | | | | fishes. Get the pet shop people to help you select |
| Setup your filter according to your filter's manual. | | | | healthy ones. While at the shop, make sure |
| Make sure that it is working properly as intended, | | | | you've already gotten everything you need. |
| as the filter is a very important part of an | | | | Things like food, aquarium salt(if keeping brackish |
| aquarium. Your filter provides water circulation, | | | | water fishes), net, water pump, and a bottle of |
| and also oxygenates the water, if your type of | | | | anti-chlorine-and-chloramine water conditioner. |
| filter causes water surface disturbance. If your | | | | Once you reached home, float the packet of |
| aquarium is heavily loaded with fishes, and your | | | | your new babies in your tank water. This is to |
| filter fails for even a few hours, it could be fatal. | | | | acclimatize your fishes to the new water |
| What is cycling? | | | | temperature. Float for about 15 minutes, then |
| Cycling is the process where bacterias break | | | | open up the packet, and pour some of your tank |
| down ammonia(NH3) into nitrite(NO2), and from | | | | water into it. This is to acclimatize your fishes to |
| nitrite to nitrate(NO3). Ammonia and nitrite are | | | | the new water parameters. Wait for another 15 |
| both very toxic to fishes, and nitrate being the | | | | minutes, or more, if your fishes are sensitive |
| least toxic of the three. Therefore this process is | | | | species. And finally, use a net to catch your fishes |
| the most important for any aquarium. | | | | into your fish tank! |
| The nitrosomonas species of bacteria starts | | | | Observing your fishes |
| forming when ammonia is present. They form all | | | | If your fish tank has decorative objects, most |
| around our fish tank, the driftwoods, the | | | | likely your new fishes will go into hiding. This is |
| substrate, and especially inside our filter. Slowly, | | | | normal, and will last up to a few days. When they |
| they will form into a colony large enough to | | | | do show themselves, observe them. Take note |
| efficiently breakdown ammonia into nitrite. When | | | | of how their bodies look like, and how they |
| nitrite in the water has reached a certain level, the | | | | behave, so you will know when something odd |
| Nitrobacter species of bacteria starts forming. | | | | happens. |
| Slowly, they will breakdown the nitrite into nitrate. | | | | Feed very sparingly during this beginning stage. As |
| And finally, nitrate in the water can be removed | | | | the filtration and bacteria system is still new, do |
| via the most common and cost-effective | | | | not want to pollute the water too much. I |
| method, water changes. | | | | suggest feeding small amounts once a day |
| In a nutshell: Ammonia > Nitrite > Nitrate | | | | starting from the second or third day. If your |
| Introduction of ammonia | | | | fishes refuse to eat, do not put in more food. Try |
| These are the various ways of introducing | | | | feeding again the next day. This is normal and you |
| ammonia: | | | | do not need to worry, as the fishes most likely |
| - Seeding. Transfer some gravel or filter sponge | | | | already eaten when in the pet shop, and they can |
| wool/etc from an established fish tank into the | | | | survive for as long as a week without food. |
| new one. | | | | Conclusion |
| - Fish wastes. Zebra danios are very hardy fishes | | | | Soon, your fishes will get used to their |
| that are commonly used for cycling. | | | | environment. They will start becoming more |
| - Market prawns. Yes, it will stink. | | | | active. Their vibrant colors will start showing. And |
| - Commercial products. | | | | they may even recognize you whenever you |
| Personally, I feel that the seeding method would | | | | come close to feed them. That is the reward of |
| be the most reliable and yields the fastest results. | | | | fish-keeping! But of course, you have to be a |
| Fish method is slow, but adding more fishes does | | | | responsible owner. Performing the regular water |
| makes the process faster. Just that the fishes | | | | changes, medicating them when they get sick, |
| might not survive the intense ammonia poisoning. | | | | and feeding them quality food everyday. And I |
| We don't want fishes to die in our new fish tank. | | | | officially welcome you to the hobby! |